The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-04-16
RELIGIOUS.
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LAKE CHAarns, March ct, 's7.
Dear Brother Psniel
] began my work as missionary for
Caieasieu Association 81 tho 2Tth 81
February under commission OF The
Executive Beard. Since that time the
apFoiutment has been ratified BY the
State Boatd, and IL compliance with
instructions received from Secretary
Tamkies, / send yon this report Of
my work for The month ending March
27th.
Galcasieu Association is composed
Of the churches IN CHlcmsien parish,
with J0hnson's Bayou church ii Cam
eeon parish, and Oeenpy church IN
Eapides, and covers territory Of
abont six Thousand square miles, be-
ing abont one hundred miles long by
sixty in width. If Washington is the
city Of magnificent distance" then
this Associations entitled tothe same
dialincsion.
I'll my field ] meet with all classes
Of people, from the shrawd capitalist
il pursuit Of his manufacturing inter
est down to the humble ''squatter"
upon his homestead amid the wilds OF
natures unbroken forest.
Intthe southern portion of the field,
which is an open, undnlating prairie
region, a large per cent Of the inhabi-
lants are descendants Of the Acadians
who came 10 this country many years
ago. They speak the French Lam
gnage principally, although most of
them understand aud speak the Eng
lish very well. These people are for
the most part Catholics, but they are
not so pronounced in their views, nor
50 deeply pFejndiced as followers Of
ihis sect usually are. Their is fine
field Of labor among this class alone
for minister who can talk to them IN
their mother tongue. Ny good Bro.
Allen, who Is now engaged in teach
ing at Lake Charles, understands that
tongue and has been speaking of en-
iering lie work; truly the harvest in
that particular field is ripe AID awaits
the sickle of Gods truth. May the
Lord direct his steps thither.
! TIE Louisiana Western Railroad
crosses the parish about the timber
line, and Lake Charles, The parish
site, is on the railroad about the CEN
ter of the parish from east TO west.
Lake Charles is the key, not only to
/ Caleasieu Association, but to all
Southwest Louisiana, and is one Of the
best, if not the most important point,
IN al the Baptist canse in Louisiana.
Here the indefatigable Scotield plant
cd the Baptist banner some eight
wears ago, and here the sainted Terry
fell in the thickest of the fight; here
Kellis struck some noble blows, and
the beloved Head made sacrifices,
heaven only knows, and now Brother
Seofeld has returned TO his first love,
hoisted his banner and thrown down
the glove, and if can read the signs
Of the times, he will stand to his post
if he goes down like Casabianca.
Along the line of this road arr
other towns that deserve mention al
being of importance TO Baptists
Among them are Edgerly, Welsh anC
: Jennings. The parish from the rail
road north is decidedly Baptist, espo
cialiy in the centraLand western parts
this pant of the parish, however, j
! not SO densely populated, even as tn
y southern part, and necessarily entail
7 great deal of hard uding npon tn
missionary, Owing 10 the undeve
oped condition of the country geneI
q ally, roads arc in many places only i
/ condition for horseback riding. l al
!. considerably encouraged with the out
! look 50 far, and hope to be able t
= make moro interesting report in m
G next.
8 For fear Of trespassing too much 0
q your space ] wild close by giving
i summary OF what lar been done s
g far. Miles Travelled, 25l; sermon
2 preached, 8 cash collected, s2l; fan
.. lies visited, 80; average attendance q
y services, a. estimated total atten
= anee on services, 355.
" Respectfully,
Is w. NJ. THOMPSON.